 "Rohit, Kohli overlooked for India A squad for South Africa A one-dayers despite match-winning performances in Australia")
The BCCI unveiled India’s squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa that gets underway next week, in which senior wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returns as the vice-captain and pacer Akash Deep has been included at the expense of Prasidh Krishna.
That, however, wasn’t the only squad that was announced on Wednesday, with the board also unveiling the India A squad for upcoming 50-over fixtures against South Africa A, which will also be getting underway next week.
T20 star Tilak Varma has been assigned the responsibility of leading a young side that comprises the likes of wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, etc. with Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad as his deputy. Prasidh, who has been overlooked for the South Africa Tests, has also been included.
Rohit and Kohli not part of the India A squad for the second consecutive series
What has raised eyebrows, however, is the absence of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who had recently featured in the three-match ODI series in Australia in which the former had been adjudged the Player of the series.
Both Rohit and Kohli have retired from Twenty20 Internationals as well as Tests and have indicated their desire to continue playing ODIs till the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The Men in Blue, however, don’t play 50-over games as frequently as they used earlier, especially in the pre-T20 era. The iconic ‘Ro-Ko’ pair, thus, was expected to feature in as many one-dayers as possible in order to maintain their batting rhythm and to also stay match-fit.
Both Rohit and Kohli had also been overlooked for India A’s 50-over fixtures against Australia A, which Shreyas Iyer-led Indian team had won 2-1. Their appearance in the recent ODIs in Australia was their first for the Men in Blue since the ICC Champions Trophy as well as their first appearance in any form of the game since the 18th season of the Indian Premier League.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe two seniors, who are in their late 30s, looked rusty in the tour opener in Perth, with Rohit and Kohli getting dismissed for 8 and 0 respectively. And while Rohit would score a cautious 73 in the second game Adelaide, Kohli suffered the ignominy of getting dismissed for back-to-back ducks for the first time in his career.
Rohit and Kohli, however, starred in India’s dominant nine-wicket win in the dead rubber in Sydney, remaining unbeaten on 121 and 74 respectively and sharing an unbroken 168-run partnership for the second wicket.
Also Read | Rohit and Kohli thank Aussie fans in emotional farewell after last international Down Under
The two former captains were back to their imperious best at the Sydney Cricket Ground, erasing any doubts over their ability to produce match-winning performances for India in the twilight of their careers.
While Rohit and Kohli are set for another break after being overlooked for the South Africa one-day games, it remains to be seen if they represent their respective state associations – Mumbai and Delhi respectively – in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this winter.
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